Psychology 2042B-001 (Online for 2020-21)
Exceptional Children: Behavioural Disorders
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This half course will cover theory and treatment related to major psychological disorders of childhood, including depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, conduct problems, and the impact of child maltreatment.
ANTIREQUISITES: Psychology 2041, Psychology 2320A/B, Psychology 3320F/G, Psychology 3434E.
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
3 lecture hours asynchronous online each week, 0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Jeff St. Pierre, C.Psych.
For common questions and discussion, ask your classmates on the OWL 2042B course website Forums page (https://owl.uwo.ca/portal), which the instructor and TA will also monitor and offer answers to your questions as needed.
Office Hours: No on campus office. Virtual online office hours will be offered occasionally. Times tba.
Course Email: 2042@live.ca (post questions to OWL Forum first. Dr. St. Pierre checks this e-mail every evening, not during the day)
Phone: 519-858-2774 x2021
Teaching Assistant: Jason Chung
Email: jchun264@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Lectures: Three hours per week of lecture. Online asynchronous lectures uploaded each week by Tuesday for download from OWL course website.
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Abnormal Child Psychology Custom Edition 2019 – Mandatory reading. The hardcopy or online e-copy are identical – you choose either one. Used copies from 2019 are also fine.
Textbook Search | The Book Store at Western (uwo.ca)
E-version one year rental $37.95 or Hardcopy purchase $77.50
This custom text contains 7 Chapters (1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) from Mash and Wolfe, 7th edition of Abnormal Child Psychology (Cengage/Nelson). The full Mash and Wolfe text (used in Abnormal Child Psychology 2320 course) contains chapters on other disorders that are not covered in this course.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The objective of this course is to introduce students to the study of psychopathology in children and adolescence. An overview will be provided of several major behavioural and emotional disorders of childhood and adolescence, including their prevalence, characteristics, causes, and current approaches to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge. Define terminology in social science and clinical psychology. Recognize the main symptoms of a range of psychological disorders and state the prevalence of these disorders. Explain current approaches for the assessment, prevention and treatment of psychological problems amongst children and youth. |
Study assigned readings. Study lectures. |
Measured through multiple choice tests. |
|
Knowledge of Methodologies. Differentiate evidence-based assessment and treatment strategies from unproven methods. |
Study assigned readings. Study lectures. |
Measured through multiple choice tests. |
|
Application of Knowledge. Apply DSM-5 criteria to provide the most plausible diagnosis for a set of psychological symptoms. Identify and contrast current scientific theories (e.g. biological, psychological) on the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders. Apply the theories of child development to case examples of normal versus abnormal coping and interpersonal functioning. |
Study assigned readings. Study lectures. |
Measured through multiple choice tests. |
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.
|
OWL assignment. |
Participation mark as outlined on OWL. |
5.0 EVALUATION
Exam 1: 32% of grade. 75 multiple choice, online test.
Exam 2: 32% of grade. 75 multiple choice, online test.
Exam 3: 32% of grade. 75 multiple choice, online test.
Participation: 4% of grade. Online assignments. Content and submission deadlines announced in lectures.
Student evaluation will be based on three exams with equal weighting along with participation marks. Each exam is 75 multiple choice with plenty of time to complete (100 minutes) and a flex start time. All exams are completed online through the OWL course website in a linear fashion (no backward review). No remote proctoring will be used; you have open book/note access; you must work privately. Each exam will focus on material from sections specified below, however some cumulative knowledge will be assessed, for example the concepts you learn in section 1 will be applied in the next 2 sections. Questions on each exam will be based on information contained in the assigned chapter readings, any supplementary readings assigned on the course website, lectures, and audio-visual presentations. Power Point lectures are on OWL, no additional Professor lecture notes will be posted.
As per Department of Psychology policy, grades that are close to the next grade level (e.g., 79%, 89%) will not be rounded up.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
February 9: Test 1. OWL Test link, 100 minutes total, opens 4pm & ends 7pm EST (London Ontario)
March 16: Test 2. OWL Test link, 100 minutes total, opens 4pm & ends 7pm EST (London Ontario)
Date TBA: Test 3. Set by registrar April 14 – 30, OWL Test link, 100 minutes total.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Each week, do the textbook reading first, then review lectures in OWL, then go back and study the text and notes for test preparation.
January 12: Chapter 1 Introductions and Course Overview, Child Development
January 19: Chapter 2 Theories and Causes. Assessment
January 26: Chapter 3 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
February 2: Chapter 4 Conduct Problems
February 9: Exam I (Ch’s 1, 2, 3, 4, website readings + lectures) online
Students who miss this exam due to illness should contact the Academic Counselling Office of their Faculty immediately with appropriate medical/supporting documentation, and contact your TA. He will inform you of the date of the group online Make-up Exam. No self-reported absence allowed.
February: 15-19 READING WEEK
February 23: Chapter 5 Depressive and Bipolar Disorders
March 2: Chapter 6 Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
March 9: Anxiety and Mood Disorders - Evidence based treatment
March 16: Exam II (Ch’s 5, 6, website readings + lectures) online
Students who miss this exam due to illness should contact the Academic Counselling Office of their Faculty with appropriate medical/supporting documentation, and contact your course TA immediately.
He will schedule a group online Make-up Exam. No self-reported absence allowed.
March 23: Chapter 7 Child Maltreatment and Attachment Disturbance
March 30: Chapter 7 Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
April 6: Risk and Protective Factors in Developmental Psychopathology
Final Exam date: TBA April 14 to April 30, 2020 (Ch 7, website readings + lectures)
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
- must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
10.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the course that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online as determined by the course instructor.
11.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
12.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2020-2021 Calendar References
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
